When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
You should start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as they start to come through, which is around six months. Once that first tooth makes an appearance, you should try to introduce your child to a toothbrush and toothpaste.
This not only helps to establish good oral hygiene, preventing a build up of plaque and tooth decay, but it also helps your child get used to the sensation of a brush and the taste of toothpaste so that it becomes a part of their daily routine.
Do babies need special toothpaste?
Adults’ toothpastes can be too abrasive and strong-tasting for young children. Babies and toddlers don’t know how to spit and these toothpastes may contain ingredients that shouldn’t be ingested or could damage the enamel of baby teeth.
There are a range of products available that have been designed for young teeth, including natural and unflavoured toothpastes, which can be safely swallowed in small amounts.
Can I use fluoride toothpaste to brush my baby’s teeth?
The NHS advises that parents use a smear of fluoride toothpaste for babies and toddlers up to the age of three. Baby toothpaste should have a minimum of 1,000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride, while a family toothpaste should have between 1,350ppm and 1,5000ppm.
Fluoride is a natural ingredient found in water and many foods, and it helps to protect teeth from decay and make them stronger. The reason children’s toothpaste has less fluoride is to prevent them from ingesting too much. This can lead to fluorosis, which is the appearance of little white spots or discolourations on their teeth.
If you’re concerned about this, you may prefer to opt for fluoride-free toothpaste, such as the Jack N’ Jill Natural Toothpaste.
If you do decide to use an adult toothpaste for your baby, make sure to avoid any teeth whitening products as this can damage the enamel on children’s teeth. Another ingredient to look out for - especially if your child is sensitive to strong flavours or has sensory issues - is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which is added to toothpastes as a foaming agent.
What else should I look for in baby toothpaste?
Flavour
This can make a huge difference when it comes to your child letting you brush their teeth. Baby toothpastes are milder than normal ones and tend to come in mint, bubble gum and fruity flavours. If they don’t like any of those, you can opt for an unflavoured toothpaste, such as oraNurse.
Natural ingredients
If you want to avoid harsh chemicals, look for toothpastes with natural ingredients. Products like the Jack N’ Jill Natural Toothpaste are also vegan-friendly as well as gluten- and SLS-free. Another thing to look out for is whether the toothpaste contains sugar, which can contribute towards tooth decay.
How do I clean my baby’s teeth?
Aim to brush your child’s teeth for two minutes twice a day, including at night before bed. Sit your baby on your lap with their head resting against your chest. It may help to sit in front of a mirror so both you and your baby can see what you’re doing.
Put a smear of toothpaste on a baby toothbrush and start doing circular motions over the teeth and gums. Babies don’t need to spit or rinse their mouth out as baby toothpastes are safe to swallow in small amounts - you can teach them this skill when they are older.
If they clamp their mouth shut, try to make toothbrushing fun by playing games or singing songs. Don’t worry if you don’t do much brushing to begin with as it’s more important that they get used to their new routine. Be gentle as teething babies may have sore gums.
Which baby toothpaste is best?
Thanks to its mild minty taste and specially designed formula for keeping milk teeth clean and strong, we think the Aquafresh Milk Teeth is the best baby toothpaste to buy right now. It’s a great first toothpaste for introducing young children to the mint flavour typically found in toothpaste and it contains the right amount of fluoride for preventing tooth decay.
How we chose our recommendations
Most of our recommendations for baby and toddler toothpastes came from Mumsnet users themselves. We searched the Mumsnet forums for posts about which toothpastes Mumsnetters really rated. We also researched various review sites to find out which toothpastes performed well across the board.
Why you should trust us
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